GABA, the predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter present in the mammalian CNS, is also found in the periphery. GABA actions are mediated by the ionotropic GABA(A)/GABA(C) receptors, as well as the metabotropic GABA(B) receptor. The rat GABA(B) receptor has recently been cloned and two cDNA clones have been isolated encoding two isoforms of the receptor, GABA(B)R1a and R1b. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of both transcripts in the rat brain using specific cDNA probes for GABA(B)R1a and R1b, respectively. However, Northern blot analysis, hybridized with a probe containing a sequence common to both isoforms, revealed specific RNAs in the rat brain and in testis, but not in other peripheral tissues. In the present study, by using the more sensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction with a specific set of primers for each isoform and Southern blot analysis, we found that both isoforms of the GABA(B) receptor are expressed not only throughout the brain but also in all peripheral organs examined, including heart, spleen, lung, liver, small intestine, large intestine, kidney, stomach, adrenal, testis, ovary and urinary bladder. The peripheral distribution of GABA(B)R1 mRNAs supports the notion of a physiological role for GABA in the control of a wide range of peripheral organs.